AFP: A senior New Zealand minister has sparked outrage after describing a planned free trade agreement with India as a “butter chicken tsunami”. New Zealand is expected to sign a free trade agreement with India in New Delhi next week.
The government has described the deal as a “once in a generation” opportunity that would give New Zealand businesses access to India’s large consumer market. However, coalition partner NZ First, a right-wing populist party, has withdrawn its support, saying the agreement could lead to increased immigration from India. Because of this, the government may now need support from the opposition Labour Party to pass related legislation in parliament.
NZ First deputy leader and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones said on Monday his party would “never accept” the deal.“I don’t care how much criticism we get, I am just never going to agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand,” he told Reality Check Radio. His remarks were widely criticised as racist by Indian community groups in New Zealand. Shanti Patel, president of the Auckland Indian Association, said: “It’s incredibly worrying for everybody.”Opposition MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan called the comments “outright racism” and said such statements were unacceptable from politicians.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Jones’ comments as “unhelpful”. Officials have said the deal could allow more than 20,000 Indian migrants to enter New Zealand. NZ First has also raised concerns about a NZ$34 billion (US$20 billion) investment commitment New Zealand may make in India over 15 years.
Labour Party officials have not yet decided whether they will support the agreement, citing similar concerns about the investment commitments.
